Bag or sack.



No. 675,4l5. Patented June 4, 190i. J. SANSUNE.

BAG 0R SACK (Application filed Dec. 7,

(No Model.)

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SANSONE, OF KEOKUK, TOXVA.

BAG OR SACK.

$PEGEYEIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,415, dated June 4, 1901.

Application filed December 7, 1900. Serial No. 39,093. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SAN SONE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Keokuk, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Bag or Sack, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bags or sacks, and has for its object to provide an improved device of this character which is arranged so as to facilitate the placing of comparatively large objects within the bag-as, for instance, bananas in a bunch. It is furthermore designed to introduce the objects through the side of the bag, so as to have the maximum opening therefor, and also to provide for conveniently and effectively closing the open side of the bag, so as to prevent loss of the contents thereof.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanyin g drawings,- and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made Within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bag constructed in accordance with the present invention and in its open position for the introduction of any object. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken through the opposite edges of the slit or opening in the side of the bag when it is open. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the first step in connecting the edges of the opening. Fig. 4: is a similar viewshowing the completed connection of the edges of the opening.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

I-Ieretofore paper bags or sacks used by fruitdealers for containing fruit which has been sold to a purchaser have their tops only open, and considerable difficulty is experienced in thrusting a bunch of bananas into the mouth of the bag, as the ends of the bananas hang in the edges of the mouth of the bag. It is the object of the present invention to overcome this difficulty, and thereby facilitate the introduction of a bunch of bananas, a pineapple, or other comparatively large fruit or objects into a flexible bag or sack.

1n carrying out the invention one side of the bag 1 is slit longitudinally from the open end thereof to a point adjacent to the opposite closed end of the bag. One side of this thin and fiexible bag is provided with a reinforcing and stiffening strip of heavy paper or pasteboard 2, which is secured flush with one edge of the slit, either upon the inner or outer side of the bag, by means of suitable adhesive material. This strip is of suitable width and extends for the entire length of the slit or opening, so as to effectually stiffen the adjacent edge thereof. The opposite edge of the slit is also provided with a similar stiffening-strip 3 and in addition thereto has a loose flap 4 extending for the entire length of the slit and located upon the inner side of the bag. The outer longitudinal edge of the flap is flexibly or hingedly connected to the edge of the slit, and the opposite inner edge of the flap is free and inclined away from the adjacent inner side of the bag. It is preferable to form the strip 3 and the loose flap from a single strip of stiff material, which is bent longitudinally, so as to straddle or embrace the edge of the slit, whereby the outer half or portion of the strip may be secured to the bag and the inner portion left free to form a loose flap.

From the foregoing description it is appar cut that in addition to the usual top opening the bag is also slit or bifurcated longitudinallyin one side, thereby forming a side opening, which maybe greatly enlarged by spread ing apart the edges of the slit, so as to facilitate the entrance of a bunch of bananas lat erally through the slit or side opening and into the bag, after which the flap 4 is sprung outwardly, so that the opposite edge of the slit may be inserted between the flap and the adjacent side of the bag, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and then the connected stiffened edges are folded upon each other as many times as preferred, one such fold being shown in Fig. 4:. Through this manipulation of the edges of the slit the side opening is conveniently and effectually closed, and when the open top of the bag is gathered together and tied or grasped in the hand it is impossible for the side slit to be accidentally opened.

It will of course be understood that the opposite side of the bag may be slitted and provided with the stiffening-strips and a flexible flap, so as to form opposite side openings, and it is designed to strengthen and reinforce the inner closed end of the slit in any suitable'or preferred manner. (Not shown in the drawings.)

An advantageous feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the sealingflap normally lies within the wrapper, Whereby it is protected when the bag is not in use, and the bag is also free from external projections. Moreover, when the flap and the opposite edges of the entrance-opening are folded or rolled together the direction of the folding is inwardly, whereby the size or circumference of the bag is diminished and it is drawn tightly about the contents thereof, so as to insure a snug fit and prevent looseness.

What is claimed is- 1. A foldable wrapper, having an entranceopening, and a closure-flap having a foldable connection longitudinally with one edge of the opening and normally lying Within the wrapper when not in use, whereby the wrapper is free from external projections, said flap being constructed for movement upon-its foldable connection to embrace the opposite edge of the opening between the flap and the adjacent edge of the opening, and both edges and the flap being adapted to be folded or rolled together, whereby the size or circumference of the bag is diminished.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a bag or sack, which is closed at one end and open at the opposite end, one side of the bag or sack having a longitudinal slit that intersects the edge at the open end of the bag, one edge of the slit having a stiffening-strip folded longitudinally and embracing said edge, the

outer part of the strip being secured to the outer side of the bag, and the inner part of the strip being free and forming a hinged or flexible internal flap to embrace the opposite edge of the slit, said opposite edge having a stiffening-strip secured thereto and adapted to be inserted between the flap and its adjacent bag portion, and both edges being adapted to be folded or rolled upon each other to close the slit after the engagement of the opposite edges thereof.

3. A flexible and foldable wrapper, having a pair of mutually-intersected en trance-openings, one of which is provided with a longitudinal closure-flap having a foldable connection with one edge thereof and normally lying within the wrapper when not in use, and constructed for movement outwardly upon its foldable connection to embrace the opposite edge of the opening between the flap and the adjacent edge of the opening,and both edges and the flap being adapted to be folded or rolled together, thereby to diminish the size of the Wrapper and the other opening.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOS. SANSONE.

\Vitnesses:

A. SANSONE, JOHN P. KELLEI-IER. 

